ATLANTA & ALISO VIEJO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) today announced an
update to its Evidence-Based
Consensus Statement for the use of Accelerated Partial Breast
Irradiation (APBI) brachytherapy to include younger patients and those
with low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

“After being diagnosed with an invasive ductal carcinoma in my left
breast, I underwent six weeks of radiation therapy with many unpleasant
side effects”

APBI brachytherapy is a targeted form of radiation that is delivered
after surgical excision of the tumor (lumpectomy) to only the area of
the breast where the cancer was removed. This is accomplished by
introducing a radiation source through a series of narrow tubes or
struts that are placed inside the tumor cavity. APBI brachytherapy
offers less radiation exposure, reduced treatment time, better cosmetic
outcomes and more flexibility with respect to future treatment options.

ASTRO updated its APBI Consensus Statement to reflect data from three
large-scale randomized trials evaluating APBI vs. WBI. The data from
these trials were sufficiently robust that the committee voted
unanimously to change the guidelines, expanding the group of patients
for whom APBI brachytherapy is suitable, which now includes patients =50
years of age (previously, patients =60 years of age were included).

“Evidence-based guidelines have the potential to fundamentally alter
clinical practice. These important changes to ASTRO’s guidelines were
based on a systematic review of 45 published clinical studies,
significantly expanding the eligible patient population,” said Atif J.
Khan, MD, Director of Brachytherapy Services at the Rutgers Cancer
Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick. “Several recent clinical
studies, including well-designed randomized trials directly comparing
APBI to WBI, demonstrate that APBI brachytherapy offers potential
advantages over WBI including a shorter course of treatment and
decreased radiation while maintaining similarly low rates of cancer
recurrence. We anticipate that ASTRO’s recommendations will drive
significant changes in how clinicians approach early stage breast cancer
treatment.”

Two decades of data have established breast conservation therapy (BCT)
as the standard of care in early stage breast cancer. The traditional
approach for radiation therapy as part of BCT has been a full course of
whole breast irradiation (WBI), which exposes the entire breast and
surrounding critical structures to radiation and requires daily
treatments for four to six-and-a-half weeks.

“APBI brachytherapy is an attractive treatment option for many women
with early stage breast cancer. It offers several advantages over WBI,
while maintaining similar clinical outcomes, including the possibility
of less radiation exposure to critical organs such as the heart, and
improved cosmetic outcomes,” said Julie A. Margenthaler, MD, FACS,
professor, division of general surgery at Washington University School
of Medicine, chair of American Society of Breast Surgeons communications
committee. “With the wide body of evidence supporting the safety and
efficacy of APBI for women with early stage breast cancer and the
guidelines update from ASTRO, we should soon see more widespread
adoption of this clinically proven and convenient approach that targets
only the tissue at risk and is kinder to patients. Indeed, treating
these women with WBI may represent overtreatment.”

Elekta and Cianna Medical support ASTRO’s APBI
guidelines update and are committed to improving cancer care through
developing innovative medical technologies and educating women about
their options. The companies encourage women to learn more about their
treatment options and talk to their doctors about selecting the best
individualized care plan. Additional information about APBI is also
available on the ASTRO
website and at bc5project.com.

“After being diagnosed with an invasive ductal carcinoma in my left
breast, I underwent six weeks of radiation therapy with many unpleasant
side effects,” said Rochelle Colon, a breast cancer survivor. “I
remained cancer free for 15 years and then it came back on my opposite
breast. Fortunately, this time my cancer was treated with APBI
brachytherapy in only five short days and I experienced none of the pain
or discomfort that I had previously with a longer course of radiation.”

About Elekta

Elekta (NSE:EKTAb) is a human care company pioneering significant
innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain
disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools
and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy, radiosurgery and
brachytherapy, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the
spectrum of cancer care. Stretching the boundaries of science and
technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that
offer confidence to both health care providers and patients, Elekta aims
to improve, prolong and even save patient lives.

Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over
6,000 hospitals worldwide. Elekta employs around 3,600 employees
globally. The corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden,
and the company is listed on NASDAQ Stockholm. Website: www.elekta.com.